Film soundtrack reviewing system

ABSTRACT

A system and method of screening films. The method includes the first step of displaying a movie print with multiple soundtracks on a display screen. A plurality of screening rooms, each with a view of the display screen, is provided. Separate audio signals from each soundtrack is generated and one or more of the audio signals is transmitted to one or more of the screening rooms. A system for screening films includes a display; a plurality of screening rooms, wherein each screening room includes a view of the display; a movie playback system; and, a sound distribution system coupled to receive audio signals from the movie playback system and to distribute the audio signals to the plurality of screening rooms.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to audio soundtrack playback andreview, and more particularly, to a system and method for reviewingsoundtracks on 35 mm motion picture film.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current 35 mm motion picture film prints employ both analog and digitalsound recording formats to produce sound for playback with the displayof the picture. Soundtrack information is stored on the film print usingmultiple methods. The first technique places the soundtrack informationonto the film along with the picture. The film is then optically scannedwith the appropriate pickup device to reproduce the audio soundtrack.This technique is used for both analog and digital soundtracks. Inanother technique, a digital time code track is printed onto the film toassociate the display of the picture with playback of digital audio datastored on a large capacity storage device, such as a compact disc.

The process of creating film release prints for distribution to theatersbegins with the creation of the master picture and soundtrack negatives.One picture negative and sound negative set can be used to make severalthousand release prints.

Before release prints are made a single “answer” print or “check” printis created to review picture and sound quality. If the quality of thecheck print is determined to be acceptable, then multiple prints aremade for distribution. Otherwise, any problems identified in the checkprint or master negatives will be addressed and another check print willbe created, until all problems are corrected. It is extremely importantthat any quality issues be determined and resolved with the check printbefore distribution prints are made. Significant cost savings areachieved by eliminating defective distribution prints.

One important aspect of the quality check is the synchronization of thesoundtrack and the picture. Specifically, the soundtrack must besynchronized to the visual images in the motion picture. Other aspectsof the sound quality review include the detection of sudden decreases insound volume (“drop outs”), hisses, scratches, or other unwantedartifacts. These defects, if not corrected, will be duplicated in thedistribution prints sent to theaters.

Currently, the inspection of each check print requires a reviewer toview the motion picture from beginning to end in order to detect qualityissues during playback. However, as the reviewer can only listen to onecomplete soundtrack during each playback, the reviewer must watch andlisten to the check print as many times as there are audio soundtrackson the film. Thus, a two-hour film with four soundtracks takes at leasteight hours to review. In addition, the playback must be done in frontof a screen that provides the reviewer a large enough display of themotion picture to see and hear details such as lip movement and otheractions, e.g., explosions, that require synchronization with thesoundtrack. Thus, rooms as large as typical movie theaters are commonlyused.

Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the issues noted above.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a film soundtrack screening system forfilms with multiple soundtracks that permits simultaneous review ofmultiple soundtracks during one playback. In general, the screeningsystem provides a separate screening room for each soundtrack to besimultaneously screened or reviewed and an audio system, which feedseach soundtrack to each separate room. The system enables the review ofthe quality of multiple soundtracks by allowing all reviewers, locatedin their respective screening rooms, to simultaneously view the sameprint or image while checking their respective soundtracks.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the systemincludes a display for viewing the movie print, with the image having aplurality of soundtracks. The system further includes a plurality ofscreening rooms, each screening room with a separate display; and, anaudio playback system that delivers a soundtrack from the plurality ofsoundtracks to each screening room. During playback of the print, thedifferent soundtracks are played simultaneously.

In another embodiment, a method performed in accordance with the presentinvention include the provision of a single display screen to view themovie print and a plurality of screening rooms, each with a view of thedisplay screen. The print includes a plurality of soundtracks, and eachscreening room receives one of the soundtracks to allow a simultaneousreview of at least two of the plurality of soundtracks along with aplayback of the image.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription. It is to be understood, however, that the detaileddescription and specific examples, while indicating preferredembodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustrationand not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope ofthe present invention may be made without departing from the spiritthereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a portion of a 35 mm film print withmultiple soundtracks, including analog and digital soundtracks anddigital time codes.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a system for reading the analog and digitalsoundtracks and digital time codes from a film print.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a soundtrack distribution system configuredin accordance to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a facilities layout for screening multiplefilm soundtracks, configured in accordance to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the first facilities layout, viewedfacing the display, for screening multiple film soundtracks of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a second facilities layout, viewed facingthe display, for screening multiple film soundtracks, configured inaccordance to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of third facilities layout for screeningmultiple film soundtracks, configured in accordance to anotherembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a top plan view of fourthfacilities layout for screening multiple film soundtracks, configured inaccordance to another embodiment of the present invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a motion picture film print 100 thatincludes multiple soundtracks, including analog and digital soundtracksand digital time codes. A series of sprocket holes 2 lays between anedge 4 of film print 100 and an analog soundtrack area 6. Film print 100also includes a picture area 8, a digital time code (DTS, a trademark ofDigital Theater Systems Corporation) area 10, a series of DOLBY DIGITAL,a trademark of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, data blocks 12,and a SONY DYNAMIC DIGITAL SOUND (SDDS), a trademark of SonyCorporation, soundtrack area 14. It should be noted that in thedescription contained herein, references to the term “soundtrack”generally encompass information on film print 100 that is related to thereproduction of sound, whether the sound information is in analog ordigital format, or related to sound information retrieved from othersources based on information in the soundtrack.

Analog soundtrack area 6 contains a pair of stereo analog soundtracks 6a and 6 b, which are included in all 35 mm motion picture release printsas analog sound playback systems are ubiquitous in all motion pictureprojection systems. Further, the analog sound format is used as aback-up system in case any of the digital sound systems are inoperativeor not installed. Picture area 8, which is spaced inward from analogsoundtrack area 6, contains the respective picture frames.

A reader (not shown in FIG. 1) is placed over a section 22 above filmprint 100 to optically read the information in analog soundtrack area 6,which is then sent to a decoder (not shown in FIG. 1) that then convertsthe optically read analog tracks into an audio signal. Similarly,information from DTS area 10, DOLBY DIGITAL data blocks 12 and SDDSsoundtrack area 14 are each read by a separate reader (not shown inFIG. 1) and sent to a decoder (not shown in FIG. 1) to decode andretrieve their respective digital audio information. In the case of theinformation from DTS area 10, the system utilizes the decodedinformation to control the playback of digital audio informationcontained on another medium.

DTS area 10 contains a digital time code stream, a series of digitaldata bits, that uniquely identify the location along the film on whichthe respective time code word is located. The time code synchronizes theplayback of audio from a data storage device with the presentation ofthe pictures from film print 100.

The DOLBY DIGITAL format consists of a series of data blocks 12 placedin between each sprocket hole on one side of the film. There are fourdata blocks per frame that are read at a rate of 24 frames per secondfor a total of 96 data blocks per second. Each block contains data bitsrepresenting a portion of the digital audio signal. The data bits arerecovered through the use of an optical reader and decoded back intoanalog audio.

SDDS is a digital film sound format comprised of soundtrack area 14,optically printed on both edges of film print 100 (only one edge isshown in FIG. 1). The information contained in SDDS soundtrack area 14consists of an array of microscopic dots (or pixels) much like thoserecorded on a CD. With SDDS, both edges of film print 100 are used toprovide two continuous streams of data interleaved using across-redundant error correction technique to further prevent drop outsfrom film damage or scratches.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary film print playback system 200 forreading the analog and digital soundtracks and digital time codes from afilm print 220. Film print projector 210 includes a feed reel 210 a anda take-up reel 210 b, a digital optical read head 212, an projectionlamp 214, a projection lens system 216, an apertured element 217, and ananalog optical read head 218.

Normal operation of film playback system 200, starts from feed reel 210a, through several digital optical read heads 212 (currently SRD, SDDSand DTS Time Code), past lamp 214 and apertured element 217, and throughanalog optical read head 218. As film print 220 proceeds through digitaloptical read heads 212, a beam of light is transmitted through thedigital soundtrack areas of film print 220, which projects the modulatedbeams onto detectors (not shown). The stream of data from the detectorsis supplied to a digital optical playback processor 224.Digital-to-analog converters (not shown) within the digital opticalplayback processor 224 converts the digitally processed digitalsoundtrack data into analog form, which is then supplied to a soundtrackdistribution system 300. Although only a single digital optical readhead and digital optical playback processor is shown and described tohandle the reading and decoding of all digital soundtrack information,it should be noted that multiple optical reading and processing elementsmay be used to achieve the same results. For example, separate readersand decoders may be used for each of the DTS, SDDS and DOLBY DIGITALsoundtracks. In addition, some projection systems may not read or decodeall the digital soundtracks. Further, other soundtrack formats notdescribed herein may be used and additional hardware might be needed toread and decode those soundtrack formats. Thus, the actual format ortechnology that results in audio signals being generated should not beseen as a limitation to scope of the present invention.

As film print 220 continuously advances from digital optical read head212 past apertured element 217, each picture frame in the film's pictureis projected on a display screen (not shown). The projection isaccomplished by transmitting light from projection lamp 214 through anaperture in apertured element 217 and through the picture area of filmprint 220. Projection lens system 216 then projects the resultingpicture or visual information onto the display screen. After film print220 advances from apertured element 217, it moves past analog opticalread head 218 to take-up reel 210 b. Within read head 218, a lightsource 218a illuminates the film's analog soundtrack area. The light ismodulated as it passes through the analog soundtrack area, and themodulated light signal is received by an analog photo detector 218 b.The analog output signal produced by the detector undergoes signalprocessing within an analog optical processor 226. The processed analogsignal from analog optical processor 226 is then, similar to the decodedoutput signals from digital optical processor 224, supplied tosoundtrack distribution system 300. The take-up reel 210 b winds thefilm in the arrangement of FIG. 2.

It should be noted that there will be temporal differences in thereading of the analog and digital soundtracks and projection of pictureframe information from film print 220 due to the different physicallocations of the soundtrack readers and the apertured element 217 (i.e.,a particular portion of film print 220 will pass through each of thedifferent readers and projectors at different times). For example, inthe exemplary projector system shown in FIG. 2, digital optical readhead 212 is positioned at a distance of a particular number of filmframes above apertured element 217. Thus, the sound information storedin the digital soundtracks may be physically located away from thelocation of the particular picture frame with which they are associatedsuch that the corresponding audio signal is produced at the same time asthe picture from the picture frame is being projected. Specifically, thedigital bits representing the digital soundtrack for a particularpicture frame of film print 220 can be recorded a certain number of filmframes behind or ahead the corresponding picture frame. Alternatively,the digital data from digital optical read head 212 can undergo aselected delay period within digital optical processor 224, so that,during playback, the digital data will be decoded and output tosoundtrack distribution system 300 at the same time the correspondinganalog information is supplied to the same soundtrack distributionsystem 300.

In another embodiment, video technology may be used to replace any orall of the motion picture and sound playback system. For example, aprojection system may use a video tap on the film projection system todisplay the motion picture on a screen using video projection.Alternatively, a video version of the motion picture may be used as theimage source with the sound originating from a film print.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a soundtrack distribution system 300configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,which includes an audio distribution center 352 coupled to distributesoundtrack signals to a set of viewing room audio switchers 354 a-d.

Soundtrack distribution system 300 receives the decoded analog anddigital soundtracks from analog optical processor 226 and digitaloptical playback processor, respectively, and routes the soundtracksignals to a plurality of screening rooms, e.g., the plurality ofscreening rooms 302 a-d as shown in FIG. 4. Soundtrack distributionsystem 300 includes other digital soundtrack processors to decode thevariety of digital soundtrack formats. All digital soundtrack processorsare conceptually shown as digital processors 224 a-c. Each screeningroom may select from one or more soundtracks for playback in thescreening room. Thus, each screening room may switch among any one ofthe soundtracks or select among several soundtracks for playback,depending on the inspection technique of the user.

In one preferred embodiment, soundtrack distribution system 300 operatesas follows. Each of the four film playback systems (Analog Stereo, DOLBYDIGITAL, DTS, and SDDS) are processed through their respective analog ordigital decoders and delayed appropriately to place all of thesoundtracks in synchronization with the picture image. The decodedsoundtracks (all in 5.1 or 7.1 channel analog format) are sent to audiodistribution router 352. Any additional 5.1 or 7.1 channel audiosources, including the audio masters from which the film negatives andprints were created, are also sent to audio distribution router 352. Allof the 5.1 or 7.1 channel sources are then distributed via the audiorouter to the four independent audio switchers 354 a-d for the fourindividual screening rooms 302 a-d. In one preferred embodiment, audiodistribution router 352 is configured to receive a plurality ofindividual audio signals and route them to any or up to all of itsavailable outputs.

Each screening room has a remote control for that screening room'srespective audio switcher. Using the switcher, the viewer is then ableto independently select among any of the multi-channel audio sourcesindividually or sum all of the sources together. By individuallyselecting each audio source, the reviewer can compare the relativequality of the different film formats against each other or against thesource master or other provided sound elements. By summing the audioformats together the viewer is able to check for synchronizationrelationships between the individual sources. Any audible delay or echobetween the different film formats or playback sources would reflect asynchronization issue.

The desired output from each viewing room's audio switcher is fed toamplifiers and then speakers, or to powered speakers directly. Thecorresponding 5.1 or 7.1 channels of audio are fed to their respectivespeakers in the listening environment. It should be noted that 5.1 and7.1 channel audio configurations are common, but do not represent all ofthe audio format possibilities and should not be seen as a limitation toscope of the present invention. In addition, the signals being processedand routed, instead of being in the form of individual analog channels,may be in other formats. Thus, for example, the soundtrack informationmay be transferred in an undecoded form and decoded locally at theviewing room's audio switcher.

In addition to the various embodiments of the soundtrack distributionsystem described above that offer dynamic routing of the soundtracks, itshould be noted that each screening room may be “hardwired” to receiveone or more predetermined sound sources. Thus, for example, a screeningroom may be designated a SDDS screening room.

Thus, through the use of soundtrack distribution system 300, a revieweris able to select one or more soundtracks for simultaneous playback inthe reviewer's screening room and employ standard soundtrack reviewingtechniques. For example, as discussed above, when multiple soundtracksare played back simultaneously, any minute discrepancies in thesynchronization between the tracks may be more easily detected throughthe detection of any delay or echo in the playback.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a facilities layout 400 for simultaneouslyscreening multiple soundtracks, configured in accordance to oneembodiment of the present invention. Facilities layout 400 includes adisplay screen 404 and plurality of screening rooms 302 a-d. Althoughscreening rooms 302 b-d are shown as being rectangular in shape, theactual shape, size, placement and orientation of the screening rooms isnot critical. What is important is that each screening room has anunobstructed view of display screen 404. Further, each screening room ispreferably acoustically isolated from the other screening rooms, suchthat the audio output in the other screening rooms will not affect theuser. A projection room (shown in FIG. 5) is located above the smallerscreening rooms 302 b-302 d.

In one embodiment, a set of smaller screening rooms 302 b-d is builtbehind a main screening room console 402 as an extension of mainscreening room 302 a. In another embodiment, smaller screening rooms 302b-d are constructed inside main screening room 302 a. In the firstembodiment, the rear wall of main screening room 302 a is modified tocreate openings so that each screening room, rooms 302 b-d, is providedwith a window 450 so that a user may view display screen 404. In thesecond embodiment, the screening rooms are built into and thus use someof the space of the main screening room 302 a. In addition, eachscreening room is provided with a set of speakers 452 for playback ofthe selected audio soundtrack(s) and a console 454 for selecting andcontrolling the playback of the soundtracks. Allowing the selection andcontrol of the playback of the soundtrack(s), each console (mainscreening room console 402 or console 454) may permit a user to remotelycontrol the motion of the picture and the sound equipment. Further, theconsole may contain logging functionality to allow a user to compilenotes and review information during the playback of the motion picturefilm.

The console serves several different functions. First, all of theQuality Control programs for each of the digital film formats (DTS,SDDS, and DOLBY DIGITAL) are displayed for the viewer to inspect. Anydefects in the digital data stream present on the film print orassociated sound negative are reflected in the Quality Control programs.These programs are PC based and are supplied by the respectivemanufacturers, (DOLBY, a trademark of Dolby Laboratories LicensingCorporation, DTS, and SONY, a trademark of Sony Corporation). A separatecomputer is also provided for note-taking, email, and Internet access.

The console also provides optional motion control over any number offilm projectors used in the system. In one embodiment, only theprimary/main screening room has the option to control the motion of theprojectors as the projector can only perform one function at a time—i.e.Fast Forward, Play, Reverse, Pause, etc. In another embodiment, eachviewing room has the option of controlling the motion of the projector,but only one room/console at a time could actually control the projectorat any given time. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,a projectionist is typically responsible for controlling the motion ofthe projectors while the viewers are responsible for selecting andevaluating the audio formats.

As stated previously, the console contains the remote control for therespective viewing room's audio switcher. The viewer uses the remote toselect the desired audio format or formats to hear through the viewingrooms multi-channel speaker system. In one embodiment, the console alsocontains a communications system to provide two-way communicationbetween the respective viewing room and any other viewing room orprojection booth.

It should be noted that the construction of the screening rooms inimplementing the various embodiments of the present invention may occurin situations where an existing screening facility having one screeningroom is converted, or “remodeled,” into multiple screening rooms. Thus,as opposed to constructing a new screening facility with a group ofscreening rooms and a projection room, an existing screening facilitymay be remodeled so that a remodeled screening facility having multiplescreening rooms is created. In one embodiment, the original screeningroom is remodeled to include the additional screening rooms. In anotherembodiment, the additional screening rooms are attached to the originalscreening room, where, as described above, a set of openings are createdin one wall of the original screening room to allow each attachedscreening room to view the display screen in the original screeningroom.

During a typical motion picture film screening and playback session, adifferent reviewer or user sits in each one of screening rooms 302 a-d.The film is played, and each user is assigned to review a particularsoundtrack, although a user may listen to a different soundtrack or morethan one soundtrack simultaneously, as discussed herein. In one methodof review, each user logs any quality or discrepancy issues with respectto the soundtrack the user is reviewing, as these issues are detected,without stopping the playback of the motion picture film. In anothermethod, each user may control the playback of the motion picture (e.g.,stop, rewind or fast forward the playback of the motion picture). In yetanother method, only one user may control the playback, and all otherusers must make their requests to control the playback to this user. Forexample, one user may be responsible for controlling the soundtrack towhich each user listens by controlling the signals generated by theuser. The ability for multiple users to review the separate soundtracksfor the motion picture film print simultaneously will allow the motionpicture film print to be completely reviewed in one playback session.That is, the motion picture film print will only have to be played backonce from beginning to end.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of first facilities layout 400, where aprojection room 502 is shown located above set of smaller screeningrooms 302 b-302 d. Projection room 502 contains the motion picture filmprojection system, soundtrack readers and decoders, and soundtrackdistribution system.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of a second facilities layout 600 forscreening multiple soundtracks configured in accordance to anotherembodiment of the present invention. In second facilities layout 600,two upper screening rooms 602 a-b are located directly above two lowerscreening rooms 604 a-b. A projection room 606 is located between thetwo upper screening rooms 602 a-b. With the inclusion of the mainscreening room, the embodiment shown in second facilities layout 600allows the simultaneous screening of 5 different soundtracks.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a third facilities layout 700 for screeningmultiple soundtracks configured in accordance to another embodiment ofthe present invention. Third facilities layout 700 includes a group ofscreening rooms 702 b-e arranged in line with a projection room 704 thatprojects the motion picture on a display screen 706. As discussed above,in one embodiment, the group of screening rooms 702 b-e and projectionroom 704 are created as a part of a main screening room 702 a. Inanother embodiment, the group of screening rooms 702 b-e are created asan addition to main screening room 702 a.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a fourth facilities layout 800 forscreening multiple soundtracks configured in accordance to anotherembodiment of the present invention. Fourth facilities layout 800includes two separate screening rooms 802 a and 802 d, with two groupsof screening rooms 802 b-c and 802 e-f arranged in line with twoprojection room 804 a and 804 b, respectively. Screening rooms 802 a and802 d each contain a display screen 806 a and 806 b, respectively. Thetwo groups of screening rooms 802 b-c and 802 e-f and projection rooms804 a and 804 b are created as a part of a main screening room 802 a and802 d, respectively. In this configuration, two smaller main screeningrooms may be used if space is an issue to achieve the same results as alarger main screening room that can accommodate more screening rooms. Infourth facilities layout 800, the motion picture display should besynchronized such that the display in the two main screening rooms 802 aand 802 d are synchronized. This may be achieved, for example, throughthe use of a motion picture film projection system in main screeningroom 802 a and a video feed of the motion picture film projection to bedisplayed on a video display system in main screening room 802 b.

Although the different components for reading, decoding, and playingback the soundtrack and picture information for a particular film printhas been described as separate components, it should be noted that thedescribed system is only an exemplary system, and may be reconfigured ina variety of ways that still fall under the present inventive conceptscontained herein. For example, one or both the soundtrack decoders maybe physically integrated with the soundtrack distribution system. Inanother example, the screening rooms may be arranged in a differentconfiguration from what has been described above, such as in asemi-circular arrangement. Further, the embodiments described above areexemplary embodiments of a soundtrack reviewing system configured inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Those skilledin the art may now make numerous uses of, and departures from, theabove-described embodiments without departing from the inventiveconcepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the present invention is to bedefined solely by the scope of the following claims.

1. A method comprising the steps of: displaying a movie print on adisplay screen with multiple soundtracks; generating separate audiosignals from at least two soundtracks; providing a plurality ofscreening rooms, each with a view of the display screen; and,transmitting a generated audio signal to two or more of the screeningrooms, wherein a different generated audio signal is transmitted to atleast two of the screening rooms.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein eachof the screening rooms receives only one signal from the separate audiosignals.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the screeningrooms receives multiple signals.
 4. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising the step of playing back the multiple signals simultaneously.5. The method of claim 1, wherein each screening room is effectivelyacoustically isolated from the other screening rooms.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of controlling the playback of themovie print from one of the screening rooms.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising the step of controlling the playback of the signalsfrom one or more screening rooms.
 8. A method for reviewing amulti-soundtrack movie print comprising the steps of: displaying themulti-soundtrack movie print; providing a plurality of screening rooms,each with a view of the displayed movie print; and, transmitting signalsfrom a plurality of soundtracks of the multi-soundtrack movie print tothe plurality of screening rooms, wherein each screening room in theplurality of screening rooms receives a signal from at least onesoundtrack from the multi-soundtrack movie print and wherein at leasttwo of the screening rooms each receives a different soundtrack fromeach of other.
 9. A system comprising: a display for displaying a movieprint having a plurality of soundtracks; a plurality of screening rooms,each screening room with a view of the display; and, a soundtrackplayback system that transmits signals from the plurality of soundtracksto the screening rooms during a playback of the movie print, wherein atleast two of the screening rooms of the plurality of screening roomsreceives a different soundtrack from each other.
 10. The system of claim9, wherein each screening room is effectively acoustically isolated. 11.The system of claim 9, wherein each screening room is configured toallow receipt of a set of soundtracks from the plurality of soundtracks.12. The system of claim 11, wherein each screening room is configured toallow playback of one or more soundtracks of the set of soundtracksand/or masters.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the playback issimultaneous.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein each screening room isconfigured to allow control of the playback of the movie print.
 15. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein each screening room is configured to allowcontrol of the soundtrack playback system.
 16. A method for convertingan existing film screening facility to screen a multi-soundtrack filmprint, the film screening facility including a screening room, a displayscreen and a projector system, comprising the steps of: adding aplurality of screening rooms to the screening room, each with a view ofthe display screen; and, adding a multi-soundtrack playback systemcapable of retrieving a plurality of signals from a plurality ofsoundtracks of the multi-soundtrack movie print; and, acousticallyisolating each screening room.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein themulti-soundtrack playback system is capable of transmitting theplurality of signals to the screening rooms.
 18. (canceled)
 19. A systemcomprising: a display; a plurality of screening rooms, wherein eachscreening room includes a view of the display; a movie playback system;and, a sound distribution system coupled to receive audio signals fromthe movie playback system and to distribute the audio signals to theplurality of screening rooms, wherein each screening room is effectivelyacoustically isolated.
 20. (canceled)
 21. A method comprising the stepsof: providing a plurality of screening rooms, each with a view of adisplay displaying a movie print with a soundtrack; transmitting aplurality of audio signals corresponding to the soundtrack to one ormore of the screening rooms; and, reviewing the movie print by playingback a first audio signal and a second audio signal from the pluralityof audio signals in a fist screening room and a second screening room,respectively.
 22. A soundtrack distribution system comprising: aplurality of soundtrack processors, each providing an audio signal; anaudio distribution router coupled to receive the audio signals generatedby the plurality of soundtrack processors; and, a plurality of audioswitching devices coupled to the audio distribution router.
 23. Thesoundtrack distribution system of claim 22, where the audio distributionrouter comprises: a plurality of inputs coupled to the plurality ofsoundtrack processors; and, a plurality of outputs coupled to theplurality of audio switching device; wherein the audio distributionrouter is configured to selectively route the plurality of inputs to theplurality of outputs.
 24. The soundtrack distribution system of 23,where each input in the audio distribution router is coupled to acorresponding audio switching device.
 25. The soundtrack distributionsystem of 23, where each output in the audio distribution router iscoupled to a corresponding soundtrack processor.
 26. The soundtrackdistribution system of 23, where the audio distribution router isconfigured to route a selected number of the plurality of inputs to theplurality of outputs.
 27. The soundtrack distribution system of 23,where the audio distribution router is configured to route the pluralityof inputs to a selected number of the plurality of outputs.
 28. Thesoundtrack distribution system of 22, where each audio switching deviceis configured to allow the selection of one or more audio signals forplayback.
 29. The soundtrack distribution system of 22, where the audiosignal comprises multiple channels of audio signals.
 30. The soundtrackdistribution system of 29, where playback of the selected audio signalsis simultaneous.